The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-19
PRESIDENTIAL AUTOGRAPHS.
The Collector.

The Collector.
 When an American starts in to make collection of autograph letters he is very apt to begin with the pres idents of the United States. A set of the presidents is very desirable and each year it is becoming more difficult to form one. An amateur will know little of the comparative value and va riety of the different presidents and unless he is informed, he will miss golden chances of picking up rare specimens, or pay too dearly for com- mon ones.
 Washington naturally leads the list in desirability, though Andrew John son is the rarest and most expensive, Full letters by Washington are scarce, and their price varies from $25 up- wards according to their size, condi- tion and subject matter. Letters dated during the Revolution are the most interesting, as they are apt to contain references to the war.
 Letters signed only by Washington are fairly common but always in good demand at prices varying from SIP upwards. Those written by his secre- tary, Alexander Hamilton, are per- haps the best. Hamilton was master of the English language, and his sen- tences flow as smoothly as those of Addison. Washington letters will never become cheaper as there is steady demand from outside by peo- pie who want only Washington. The most exaggerated idea of their value prevails in Europe, where $l00 is sometimes asked for one.
 Andrew Johnson seldom wrote let ters. His right arm was injured by musket ball and it was painful for him to use it. He confined himself to very short notes-generally ill pencil-or had his letters written by his son. The latter frequently signed his fath- CTS name for him. This signing by proxy has sometimes escaped notice, and at the Cist sale last spring one of these letters sold for $l5. Collectors have grown very suspicious of the name and at the Richmond sale last month signed document sold for the low price of 8. A genuine signature is worth that alone. Another reason why Johnson wrote little was because he made mistakes in grammar and spelling and he disliked 10 expose him. self to criticism.
 Washington is second in nreness and Zachary Taylor third. The old soldier was handler with the sword i thuY, ifh thn IIn oil lainous hand and was generous of blots. A fine Taylor is worth from Sl5 to S25, and it is very poor spcci- men that is valued al less than B. A number of forged signatures of Fay Tor arc in circulation, and should bc looked out for. They are on large sized card, and may be detected by the regularity of the writing.
 Abraham Lincoln ranks fourth in point of rarencss. He wrote short notes-coveriDg on the average about half a sheet of octave note paper. He used half sheet, and his writing is as plain and homespun as his character He wrote straight to the point and wasted no words. The prices of his letters range from Sl2 to S3O It Is safe to say that these prices will be greatly increased i'll the near future.
 The letters of General Grant are high priced, not so much because of their rarity as because of the great reputation of the writer. They range in price from BIO to $20, and there is large and steady demand for them. Grants book had tremendous sale, and many people like to insert a letter in the book, as it materially increases the interest.
 John Adams and John Quincy Ad- ams bring good prices. Monroe, Madi- son, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Ty- Ter and Polk run close together at from g to S6 each. Buchanan, Hayes, Pierce, Van Buren and Fillmore are lower priced.
 Arthur is decidedly scarce. It is often 50 soon after a mans death. It takes time for letters to fl nd their way into the hands of strangers. Twenty years hence Arthur's letters will be commoner than they are at present. BlessinQ-- -Pemberton'x French Wine